How mitochondria move calcium and fuel inside cells
Molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial membrane transport systems in cellular energetics
Researchers are learning how mitochondria shuttle calcium and pyruvate inside cells to help people with heart and brain diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a heart or neurodegenerative condition linked to mitochondria, this project is trying to uncover how small transport systems inside mitochondria control cell energy. The team will focus on three transporters that move calcium and pyruvate and use molecular and cellular lab techniques to see how they work and are regulated. Scientists will combine biochemical experiments, structural approaches, and cellular models to map how these transporters operate and fail in disease. Results could point to new targets for future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inherited or acquired mitochondrial-related heart disease or neurodegenerative disorders would be the most likely candidates for any future clinical follow-up based on this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to mitochondrial transport defects are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or strategies to correct mitochondrial transport problems that contribute to heart and brain diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked mitochondrial transport defects to disease, but detailed molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood and this work is exploring largely underdefined territory.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feng, Liang — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Feng, Liang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.